Insecticide resistance in cotton aphid Aphis gossypii (Glov.) in the Sudan Gezira

The resistance to insecticides of three Sudanese strains of A. gossypii (Glov.) collected from cotton fields in the Sudan Gezira Scheme over three seasons (1988, 1989, 1990) and that of two French strains was studied in the laboratory. When compared with a known susceptible strain, the aphids were found to be resistant-to the eight insecticides tested. Evolution of resistance in Sudanese strains during the three crop seasons was observed. Assay of aphid homogcnate for carboxytesterase activity towards the substrates α-naphthyl acetate and β-naphthyl acetate showed that there was no enhancement of this class of enzyme and thus it was not a cause of resistance in this species. A study of interaction between the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and pirimicarb established the kinetics of the inhibition process. I₅₀ values were found to be much higher for the Sudanese strains than for the susceptible strain. First-order inhibition kinetics revealed that resistance towards pirimicarb in Sudanese-strains was caused by a modified AchE which had a reduced affinity (higher K_a value) and poor carbamylation ability (lower K₂ value) for pirimicarb. The resistance mechanisms for the other insecticides remain to be studied.     

Bright Spots, Structure, and Magmatism in Southern Tibet from INDEPTH Seismic Reflection Profiling

INDEPTH seismic reflection profiling shows that the decollement beneath which Indian lithosphere underthrusts the Himalaya extends at least 225 kilometers north of the Himalayan deformation front to a depth of approximately 50 kilometers. Prominent reflections appear at depths of 15 to 18 kilometers near where the decollement reflector apparently terminates. These reflections extend north of the Zangbo suture to the Damxung graben of the Tibet Plateau. Some of these reflections have locally anomalous amplitudes (bright spots) and coincident negative polarities implying that they are produced by fluids in the crust. The presence of geothermal activity and high heat flow in the regions of these reflections and the tectonic setting suggest that the bright spots mark granitic magmas derived by partial melting of the tectonically thickened crust.     

Communication to the Editor Insecticide Resistance in a Strain of Aphis gossypii from Southern France

A strain (R) of Aphis gossypii from Southern France was found to be resistant to several insecticides, particularly to pirimicarb, as compared to a susceptible strain (S). Resistance levels were determined by biological tests, and the highest resistance factor (1350) was for pirimicarb. Resistance was mainly restricted to anticholinesterase inhibitors. Use of synergists, DEF and PB, suggested that resistance mechanisms based on detoxification were involved to a minor extent, since a good correlation was observed between I₅₀ values and k_i values of AChE and in-vivo bioassay data. The two strains differed in esterase activity, with a 27·7-fold increase in the R strain. Resolution of esterases by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed different patterns in the S and R strains, and two isozymes were less sensitive to pirimicarb in the S strain; however, no in-vitro degradation of [¹⁴C]pirimicarb was observed. These data suggest that the main mechanism of resistance was through a decrease in the sensitivity of the target, AChE, to the insecticides. © 1997 SCI.     

Antifungal activity of resveratrol oligomers from Cyphostemma crotalarioides

Resveratrol and its oligomers: ε-viniferine, gnetin C, Pallidol and gnetin E, as well as three new dehydrodimers, cyphostemmines A–C, have been isolated from the roots of Cyphostemma crotalarioides (Ampelidaceae). Such compounds have not been reported previously in the family Ampelidaceae. Cis ε-viniferin has also been characterized as a minor component of the extract; it may have undergone partial transformation in solution into trans ε-viniferin. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insecticidal activity of daphnane diterpenes from Lasiosiphon kraussianus (Meisn) (Thymelaeaceae) roots

A methanol extract of roots of Lasiosiphon kraussianus (Meisn) (Thymelaeaceae) showed potent insecticidal activity against Aphis gossypii (Glov) and Drosophila melanogaster (Meig). Bioassay-driven fractionation of this extract led to the isolation and characterisation of two known daphnane diterpenoids: Excoecaria toxin (1) and wikstrotoxin D (2) . The two natural products were inferior to methomyl in activity against A gossypii and Myzus persicae (Sulz) in contact assays but were superior in ingestion assays against D melanogaster. This is the first report on insecticidal activities of compounds 1 and 2 . AChE was insensitive to the two natural products. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic Analysis of Deltamethrin Resistance in Laboratory-Selected Strains of Drosophila melanogaster MEIG

The genetic basis of deltamethrin resistance or sensitivity in two strains of Drosophila melanogaster was studied by means of chromosomal analysis. Eight homozygote combinations of resistant (SR) and sensitive (HS₁) strains were constructed by chromosome substitution and were tested using topical bioassay and electrophysiological tests. The analysis of the data showed that resistance to lethal effects was multigenic, with the major factor(s) located on the first (X) and second chromosomes. One significant positive interaction between the two chromosomes was also found. For the resistance to knockdown (measured by time-based topical test), the second chromosome was found to be much more important than the first and third chromosomes. However, analysis of the onset of the deltamethrin-induced electrical activity for each constructed strain suggested that reduced nerve sensitivity (probably associated to the deltamethrin resistance) was linked to both chromosomes X and 2. Similarly, bursts of large excitatory junctional currents (which were observed in sensitive and wild strains following topical application of deltamethrin) were not observed in resistant strains when these two chromosomes originated from the SR strain. A good correlation was found between the latency and LD₅₀ suggesting that the same factors might be involved in the electrophysiological effects and the lethal effects. In our strains, resistance most probably corresponds to reduced nerve sensitivity. Our data are consistent with the location of the sodium channel gene in Drosophila on the chromosome X but clearly demonstrate that this major gene cannot by itself explain target site resistance to deltamethrin.